"We won? We won! Primordial took down Li Xianzong! We actually won!"
Hearing the notification in her ear, Queen leaped to her feet, her radiant face bursting with wild joy.
Her excitement made her rise swiftly and forcefully.
Li Chunfeng clenched his fists, pumping them in the air several times in exhilaration before cursing under his breath to release his pent-up emotions. Finally, he said:
"This was the most perilous instance I've ever encountered. To turn the tables in such a desperate situation... I couldn't have done it. He truly lives up to his reputation as a genius who cleared two S-Rank instances—the Primordial Heavenly Venerable!"
"He's too amazing!" Grass on the Plain's face, his joy momentarily eclipsing his usual melancholy, said, "The difference between him and my previous teammates is just too obvious."
Yin-Yang Town had been the most challenging instance he'd ever experienced, completely unlike anything before. The teammates were entirely different too.
The calm and astute Li Chunfeng, the unfathomably skilled Guan Ya, the formidable Queen and Huode Star General—the quality of these teammates far surpassed any Spirit Realm Walkers he'd encountered before.
And then there was Primordial, a star-level figure.
The enemies from the Evil Faction were equally terrifying.
These guys were true high-level players—Transcendent Phase high-level players.
"We survived! Thank goodness." Li Xianzong had been killed in the instance. When they returned to reality, the news would shock countless people. Honestly, always causing such a commotion. My bounty ranking is going to climb again. Guan Ya leaned back against the wall, a sigh of relief escaping her lips, a faint, unconscious smile curving her lips.
Skinny Chi Ou ate his lotus root as if in a dream. We actually won?
We cleared such a difficult instance?
His honest and earnest nature made him feel ashamed. He felt he hadn't done anything, even enjoying himself with Widow Xu. He didn't deserve to clear the instance.
Suddenly, Queen's breathing quickened. "Good, such generous rewards! Ah~ I'm going to love Primordial Heavenly Venerable forever!"
Hearing this, everyone immediately focused their attention on the mission rewards.
Guan Ya glanced at the woman again.
[ Reward Settlement in Progress ]
[ Obtained Item/Prop: Faction Token ]
[ Reward Experience: 28% ]
[ Main Quest Completion: Ding! Congratulations on completing the hidden quest! Calculating rewards... ]
[ Obtained Item/Prop: Yin-Yang Robe ]
[ Reward Experience: 30% ]
[ Hidden Quest Completion: Ding! Congratulations on advancing to Level 3 Nightwalker! ]
[ Ding! Character Card reward activated! Reward Item: Endurance Spray. ]
[ Settlement complete! Exiting the Spirit Realm in ten minutes. ]
"The Faction Token finally dropped! Now I can form my own team," Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed, overjoyed.
The Faction Token had a low drop rate, requiring a certain Hidden Score to trigger. Clearly, the intense battle between the two teams, the constant shifts in momentum, and his leadership and comeback had earned the Instance's recognition.
The Character Card reward for the demon lord arrived as promised, still an Item, but its name sounded rather odd.
Zhang Yuanqing didn't have time to examine the Item. A searing heat flared between his brows, and the Black Moon Mark materialized.
A surge of potent Lunar Power erupted from the Mark, forcefully flooding his body with a brutal, unreasonable force. The agonizing heat and pain of genetic modification and life restructuring surged through him.
He involuntarily convulsed, instinctively glancing down in shock to see his physical body standing motionless in place.
[ Another soul projection? ]
The last time his soul had projected was right after clearing the She Ling Tunnel and becoming a Level 1 Nightwalker.
Roughly three minutes later, his Spectral Entity returned to his body. The berserk Lunar Power subsided. As Zhang Yuanqing sensed the changes in his body, he opened his Attribute Panel:
[ Name: Primordial Heavenly Venerable ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Class: Nightwalker ]
[ Level: 3 ]
[ Skills: Night Roaming, Soul Devouring, Lunar Spirit, Moon Howl, Charm Magic, Spirit Sigils, Astral Projection ]
[ Experience: 8% ]
[ Morality Value: 140 ]
[ Reputation: 40 ]
[ Spirit Sigils (Active): Spirit sigils unique to Nightwalkers, capable of drawing talismans and formations. Note: Now complete, allowing the creation and refinement of Yin Corpse formations. ]
[ Astral Projection: The primordial spirit separates from the physical body, lasting for twenty minutes. ]
[ "As expected, Nightwalkers possess the ability to separate their souls from their bodies—after all, that's their specialty. I just didn't realize it required Level 3 to learn. Finally, I've mastered all the Nightwalker skills." ]
After his moment of reflection, Zhang Yuanqing was about to examine his new items when he heard a clatter. The Red Dancing Shoes, their crimson luster now faded, stumbled toward him, veering east and west like a drunken man, clearly lacking intelligence.
[ Even in this state, it still wants to dance with me? ] Seizing the opportunity while the curse's effects lingered, Zhang Yuanqing exploited a glitch and stored the shoes in his inventory.
Next, he systematically retrieved the Eye of Insight and other items into his inventory, finally free to examine his newly acquired treasures without distraction.
[ Faction Token (Inactive) ]
[ Type: Token ]
[ Function: Establish a Faction (Upgradeable) ]
[ Description: A Level 1 Faction Token allows you to establish a six-member team, create a unique team-specific instance, and receive bonus experience points (the Faction Master receives twice the amount of ordinary members). It also enables inviting same-level members to participate in instances and unlocks the Faction Vault. ]
[ Note 1: The faction-exclusive instance can be activated once the team reaches six members. ]
[ Note 2: Faction Vault (Locked) ]
[ Note 3: The Faction Token ignores faction alignment, allowing you to recruit members from enemy factions. ]
[ Note 4: Betrayal and infighting among faction members are strictly prohibited. ]
"Holy shit, this thing is way more valuable than any ordinary item! Anyone with ambition and capability who gets their hands on a Faction Token will inevitably become a regional powerhouse—like me, for example.
"I'm going to use this to build my own team, preferably one independent from The Officials, composed mainly of Unaffiliated Walkers. This will help us expand our network and avoid overlapping connections. So, the Five Elements Alliance members are out."
Zhang Yuanqing summoned the Faction Token—a triangular bronze token etched with the characters "Faction" on its face.
After grasping the Faction Token, a blue interface automatically popped up. Using his finger as a pen, Zhang Yuanqing typed in a name he had just thought of:
[ Chan Sect ]
[ Ding! This name is already taken. Please choose another. ]
[ Return of the King ]
[ Ding! This name is already taken. Please choose another. ]
[ Return of the Dead ]
[ Ding! Name successfully registered. Faction Token activated. Faction Vault unlocked. Note: The Faction Vault is not part of your Inventory and is bound to the Faction Token. All members can view the vault's contents, but only the Faction Master's approval is required to withdraw items. ]
Zhang Yuanqing immediately checked his Attribute Panel and saw a new entry:
[ Faction: Return of the Dead (Faction Master) ]
With a thought, he opened the Faction Vault. It contained a full twenty storage slots, more than his Inventory.
"The Faction Vault is bound to the token, not the Character Card. This means I can just stash the Scarecrow in there. That way, it won't count as my Item anymore, and I can avoid the XP corruption penalty. It'll be a perk for faction members, and I can still use it whenever I want. This is way better than handing it over to the Organization!"
Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up with delight.
The Scarecrow was a powerful cursed item, perfect for countering opponents' items in battle and achieving remarkable results.
However, the price was a gradual shift in one's aesthetic preferences toward sows. At first glance, this might not seem fatal or dangerous, but over time, one's sexual orientation would become irreversibly twisted, even the Demon Subduing Pestle's purification effects proving useless.
The meaning of life would be reduced to nothing more than fondling a sow's rear.
How terrifying.
Finally, Zhang Yuanqing retrieved the "Endurance Spray" he had received as a reward from his Character Card. Resembling pepper spray, its item information appeared after a few seconds:
[ Name: Endurance Spray ]
[ Type: Health Supplement ]
[ Function: Prolongs duration ]
[ Description: This spray is the creation of an Alchemist. In his youth, seeking quick wealth, the Alchemist specialized in selling aphrodisiacs to wealthy merchants and officials, earning widespread acclaim. Demand far exceeded supply, with supplicants wearing down his doorstep. Inspired by this, the Alchemist developed a convenient spray. A single application extends duration by two hours. Users have reported that prolonged use of the spray leads to permanent enhancement. ]
[ Note: You know how difficult it is to abstain from sexual desires, right? So please be a responsible person and use this with caution. ]
Oh my god, what am I seeing? Such a miraculous treasure exists in the world! After reading the item description, Zhang Yuanqing was speechless for a long time, his mind racing with a single thought: Damn, I'm rich again!
This is a godsend for middle-aged men! Charging ten thousand for a single spray wouldn't be excessive, right?
The cost... it's probably addictive if used for too long.
Just as Zhang Yuanqing was pondering this, he heard hurried footsteps approaching. Turning around, he saw Guan Ya and the others rushing toward him.
At that moment, there were only about three minutes left until their return.
As the group drew closer, Zhang Yuanqing scanned their joyful faces and smiled. "Looks like you all had a good haul."
"All thanks to you!" Li Chunfeng's grin was practically bursting off his face. "My experience points have reached 90%! I might even be able to participate in the mid-year Slaughter Instance and aim for Saint status. Plus, I got a decent Item that compensates for my lack of offensive power."
Queen smiled. "I also obtained an Item, and my experience points have reached 87%. Even among Level 3 Walkers, I'm considered above average. I'm planning to participate in the mid-year Slaughter Instance. By the way, Primordial, you should be close to Level 3 by now, right?"
Guan Ya immediately turned to look at him.
"I've already reached Level 3 and can participate in the mid-year Slaughter Instance," Zhang Yuanqing said with a smile. "Sister Guan Ya, what about you?"
"...I'm also Level 3," Guan Ya replied, her expression blank.
What's he up to? Three consecutive level-ups from three Instances? What kind of insane leveling speed is this?
Ordinary Spirit Realm Walkers typically need to complete three or four Instances, or even more, to advance one level.
This rate of progression rivaled that of the little witch in their family.
"You've only been a Spirit Realm Walker for a little over a month, right? This must be your third or fourth Instance?" Queen asked, her lips slightly parted in surprise.
Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze to Fire Master. "Why hasn't he woken up yet?"
Grass on the Plain explained, "He's likely regained consciousness, but the toxins have paralyzed his nerves. His mind is awake, but his body isn't. A few days of rest after returning should fix it."
Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Sister Guan Ya, how's your injury?"
Leveling up doesn't heal injuries; at best, it enhances physical constitution, which can slow down the damage to some extent. Like him now, he felt utterly drained, longing for a deep sleep.
Only now he remembers to ask about my injury, Guan Ya thought, huffing inwardly and ignoring him.
Hmm? Zhang Yuanqing looked at her strangely, a few times.
Queen glanced at the countdown timer on her Attribute Panel and quickly said, "Let's exchange contact information, everyone. Sharing such a harrowing experience must mean we're destined to stay connected."
The Officials primarily recruit informants by forming bonds with teammates within instances.
Typically, in competitive instances like this one, surviving to the end fosters a degree of camaraderie and trust, making continued contact offline highly likely.
Some Spirit Realm Walkers even find love through these shared trials, becoming couples or even marrying.
As the group finished exchanging contact information, the countdown timer reached zero, and the scenery instantly warped.
The image sharpened from blurry to clear, revealing Zhang Yuanqing's familiar bedroom with its disheveled bed.
The digital alarm clock on his bedside table displayed the time: 05:20.
In May, the sky was already bright. Outside the window, the crisp, clear chirping of birds mingled with the faint murmur of early-rising neighborhood moms and dads chatting in the distance.
Peace and tranquility.
Zhang Yuanqing stood by the window, breathing in the cool, damp morning air. Every time he returned from the Spirit Realm, he felt as if he had crossed over into another world.
"It's dawn... I'm so tired and sleepy," he murmured.
His eyelids felt heavy, and every cell in his body let out a lazy sigh, longing to collapse into bed and recover his strength and energy.
He returned to his desk, tore off a sheet of paper, and scribbled:
"No classes today. Stayed up late gaming. Skipping breakfast. Don't disturb me (^ω^)"
He stuck the note on the door, locked the room, and sent Li Dongze a message to let him know he had emerged from the instance. Then he collapsed into bed and fell asleep instantly.
The next day, in an upscale residential complex near the Public Security Bureau, Li Dongze woke up promptly to the sound of his alarm.
His first instinct was to grab his phone and check for missed calls or messages.
There they are!
Two unread messages: one from Primordial Heavenly Venerable and the other from Guan Ya.
He first opened the message from Primordial Heavenly Venerable, sent at 5:30 AM:
"Chief, I've emerged from the instance. I'm a bit tired, so I'm going to rest first."
Finally, he's out! Li Dongze sighed in relief, his apprehension finally easing. Honestly, every time he enters an instance, it makes me more anxious than when I go in myself!
Compared to the previous two instances, Li Dongze felt slightly more composed this time in Yin-Yang Town.
As expected, Primordial didn't disappoint him.
Li Dongze habitually began analyzing:
"Primordial's tone is remarkably calm. Guan Ya is out too. This instance lasted about five hours, the standard duration. Yin-Yang Town's difficulty is mid-to-high among A-rank instances, mainly due to the factional conflict. Since Primordial and Guan Ya are both Level 2, their opponents shouldn't have been particularly strong."
While pondering this, he exited Primordial Heavenly Venerable's chat interface and checked Guan Ya's messages, which had been sent a few minutes earlier.
"Chief, Primordial and I are out. The enemy we encountered in the instance was Li Xianzong. I sustained minor injuries and am quite tired, so I'll rest first."
Upon seeing Li Xianzong's name, Li Dongze instinctively tensed up. His first thought was: Damn, Primordial and Guan Ya are dead for sure!
Then he realized this must be after the fact—they had exited the instance, meaning Li Xianzong was the one who had fallen.
What the hell happened? Li Dongze stared at his phone screen, dumbfounded.
What kind of teammates did they get in the instance? How did they manage to kill Li Xianzong? There were only a handful of Transcendent Phase powerhouses: the elites from the Taiyi Sect, the Officials, or perhaps some hidden masters from the shadows?
What's the point of sleeping now? Get up and write the report!
Li Dongze's sleepiness vanished completely, replaced by an insatiable craving for their reports.
Meanwhile, at the Fu Family Bay Villa...
Fu Qingyang and Ling Jun were enjoying breakfast at a spacious solid wood dining table, served by rabbit-eared maids.
A rabbit-eared maid entered the dining room, carrying an old-fashioned mobile phone. "Young Master, Miss Guan Ya is calling."
"Oh, she's out?" Ling Jun chuckled, taking a sip of milk.
He wasn't particularly worried about Guan Ya and Primordial. One was a combat prodigy, the other a resourceful strategist with a vast arsenal of Items. An A-rank instance like Yin-Yang Town was unlikely to pose a serious challenge to them.
Fu Qingyang's expression relaxed slightly. He set down his utensils and took the phone.
"You're out?" His tone was calm, as if this were a trivial matter.
Guan Ya hummed in acknowledgment. "I've written a report. Review it and decide whether to submit it to the database. I'm exhausted. Don't call me unless it's urgent."
She believed the report's contents were unsuitable for Li Dongze's direct review. Moreover, it contained her personal assessments of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, the kind of insights best shared only with family.
"Understood!"
Fu Qingyang nodded slightly, hung up the phone, returned the phone to the bunny girl, and instructed, "Bring me my laptop."
Ling Jun put down his knife and fork, abandoning his casual demeanor. "What does Guan Ya mean by this?"
Fu Qingyang replied calmly, "You'll understand once you read the report."